Sash and store front construction



Sept. 22, 1942. c. D. LOWRY SASH AND STORE FRONT CONSTRUCTION Filed March 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 22, 1942. c LOWRY- SASH AND STORE FRONT CONSTRUCTION Filed March 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zhwcntor 60 05 2 Low?! Gttomcg Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SASH AND s'rolm CONSTRUCTION U corporation of Ohio assignor to Libbey- Toledo, Ohio, 21.

Application March 27, 1940, Serial No. 326,242 '14 Claims. (01. 20-5s.4)

The present invention relates broadly to sash V members, friction wedges, or the like, for connecting the inner and outer sash sections together and for also effecting the application of the desired pressure upon the pane of glass to secure it in place. Such tensioning means, however, must be manipulated during or after installation to secure the glass in position and again manipulated when it is desired to remove the glass. Consequently, the previous types of tensioning means requires considerable time and labor to properly position and lock the sash sections in place by the manipulation of screws, levers, cam members, or the like.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a novel and improved sash or store front construction wherein the use of screws, levers, or similar tensioning means for connecting the inner and outer sash sections together is eliminated, thereby materially reducing the time and labor incident to installation or disassembling of the structure for repair purposes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sash or store front construction wherein the outer sash section is of a snap-on type which may be readily and quickly associated with the inner sash section by the simple operation of pressing the outer section against the glass and into cooperative locking engage-. ment with said inner section.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sash or store front construction of the above character embodying means for yieldably yet firmly maintaining the pane of glass in place and thereby provide effective protection against breakage of the glass resulting from stresses and strains due to wind pressure, vibration, temperature changes, and the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a sash or store front construction of the above character, wherein the installation of the pane of glass and the securing thereof properly in place may be accomplished entirely from the front side of the window and without the use of any special tools or equipment.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide a sashor store front construction of the above character of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy, and ease of assembly and oper-* ation; which will exert a predetermined resilient clamping pressure upon the pane of glass; which may be employed with different thicknesses of glass; and which will apply suitable retaining pressure upon the glass regardless of any variations in the thickness thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a store front embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional View through one form of metal sash construction provided by the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective sectional view of a portion of the movable sash section; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through another form of metal sash construction also embodying the invention.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the numeral l0 designates a glazed opening in its entirety in which a pane of glass II is supported in a wall opening by the metal sash construction l2 arranged at the top, bottom, and opposite sides of the pane of glass. As shown, the building containing the glazed opening may be faced with stone, Vitrolite, or other ornamental slabs or panels 13. It will of course be understood that a store front is merely one field of use for my invention, and that the invention can be readily applied to other fields; such as, for example, windows, show cases, picture frames, mirror mountings, mountings for blackboards, etc.

With reference particularly to that form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the metal sash construction I2 is mounted on a wooden sill M in front of a wooden back-stop. l5 carried upon said sill. The sash construction comprises a rear stationary section [6 and a movable front section l'l associated with one another to clamp the pane of glass II in position therebetween. The rear sash section It comprises a vertical back wall l8 provided adjacent its upper end with a forwardly directed gutter portion I9 having formed at its forward end a substantially vertical plate portion 2|] provided at its upper or inner end with a bead 2| engaging the rear surface of the pane of glass II and at its lower or outer end with a forwardly directed horizontal shelf 22 having a cammed bottom or outer surface 23 which curves rearwardly and downwardly.

Formed integral with the back wall I3 of the rear section I 6, at the lower end thereof, is a forwardly directed horizontal bottom wall 24 extending in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the glass sheet II and secured to the sill I4 by fastening screws or the like 25. The bottom wall 24 is provided at its forward end with a longitudinally extending inwardly and rearwardly directed lip 21 having the front and rear upwardly converging surfaces 28 and 29 respectively.

The front sash section I I comprises a face member 30 provided at its upper or inner end with a rearwardly directed portion 3| terminating in a bead 32 engaging the front surface of the pane of glass II. The face member 30 is formed at its lower or outer end with a longitudinally extending groove 33 which faces downwardly and outwardly and which is adapted to receive therein the upper end of the lip 21. The groove 33 is formed between the spaced end portions 34 and 35 of the face member; the end portion 35 projecting beyond end portion 34 and being provided with a curved rear surface 36.

Formed upon the inner surface of the face member 30 are the vertically spaced longitudinally extending flanges 31 and 33 which define therebetween a channel 39 within which are secured a. plurality of substantially horizontal spring members 40 arranged at spaced points 1ongitudinally of said face member. Each spring member 40 consists of a substantially flat strip of spring metal having its forward end .bent upon itself as at 4| and received within the channel 39. The forward end of the spring member is simply snapped intorthe channel 39 and is held firmly therein by the inherent resiliency of the metal. The free end of the bent portion 4| of each spring member engages a shoulder 42 formed on flange 31 and which shoulder assists in maintaining the spring member in place.

The spring members 40 extend rearwardly beyond the edge of the pane of glass I I and engage the bottom cammed surface 23 of shelf 22. When the movable front section I! is properly associated with the fixed rear section I6, the lip 21 on the bottom wall of said rear 'section is secured within the groove 33 at the bottom of the front section. The spring members 40 engaging the shelf 22 are under sufficient tension to urge the upper end of the front section into yieldable engagement with the glass sheet I I and to maintain it with a predetermined resilient pressure against the glass.

The numeral 43 designates vertical locking pins which are inserted through openings in the gutter portion I9 of the rear section I6 and which serve to prevent unauthorized removal of the front section I1. One of these locking pins is provided for each spring member 40 and said pins are adapted to prevent rearward movement of the front section such as is necessary to; eifect the removal of said section. During the installation or removal of the front section, the locking pins 43 are of course Withdrawn.

When installing the pane of glass l I, the rear sash section I6 is first properly positioned and secured in place upon the sill l4 by the screws 25. The pane of glass is then disposed in proper position, with the rear surface thereof in engagement with the bead 2| of the rear section. The glass may be supported at its lower edge upon the shelf 22 or, if preferred, the shelf may be cut out at spaced points longitudinally thereof to provide openings for the reception of setting blocks for supporting the glass sheet.

To assemble the front section I! with the rear section I6 and to firmly yet resiliently secure the glass sheet in place, the front section is initially positioned with respect to the rear section as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. At this time, the bead 32 at the upper end of the front section will be in engagement with the outer surface of the glass sheet, while the lower end of said section will be disposed outwardly of the lip 21 and in contact with the inclined front surface 28 thereof. Also, the rear ends of the spring members 40 will be disposed beneath the shelf 22. To then secure the front section in place, the lower end thereof is simply forced rearwardly, whereupon the curved surface 36 at the bottom of the face member will slide upwardly along the inclined front surface 28 of lip 2! and, simultaneously, the spring members 43 will engage the cammed lower surface 23 of the shelf 22 and be flexed or bent thereby. The rearward pressing of the front section is continued until the lower end portion 35 thereof snaps over the upper end of lip2'l and said lip is received within the groove 33 as shown in full line position in Fig. 2. When this occurs, the spring members 4|] will be bent or flexed sufficiently so that they will force the front section downwardlyand urge the bead 32 thereof into yielding engagement with the front surface of the glass sheet.

The spring members 43 will serve to maintain the front section resiliently against the pane of glass with sufficient pressure to maintain the glass securely in place. The degree of pressure applied to the glass sheet depends upon the strength of the spring members 49 and it is not necessary to rely upon the skill of the workman making the installation to determine when sufficient clamping pressure is applied to the glass. By proper selection of the spring members, a predetermined resilient pressure can be exerted by the movable front section upon the glass sheet. From the above, it. will be seen that the front section can be easily and quickly assembled with the rear section by being pressed into engagement therewith and that it will be automatically secured in place without manual manipulation of any securing or looking elements. In other words, the front section is of a snap-on type giving the desired resilient pressure upon the glass Without the use of complicated locking means or time consuming elements.

After the front section H has been installed, the locking pins 43 can be inserted through the openings in the gutter portion I-Sand these pins will serve to prevent unauthorized removal of the front section by preventing said section from being forced rearwardly to disengage the same from the lip 21. However, when it is desired to remove or replace the pane of glass II, the looking pins 43 are removed and the lower end of the front section forced rearwardly and upwardly against the action of the spring members 4!] until the end portion 35 thereof is clear of the lip 21 whereupon the action of the spring members will serve to kick the lower end of the front section forwardly beyond said lip so that its removal can be readily effected. Thus, the front section can be installed or removed without the use of any special tools or equipment.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated a somewhat different type of sash or store front construction which also embodies the principles of this invention. The construction herein disclosed includes a rear stationary section 44 and a movable front section 45 for securing the pane of glass I l in place therebetween. The rear section 44 comprises a vertical back wall 46 provided at its upper end with a substantially V-shaped gutter including a forwardly and downwardly extending portion 41 and an upwardly and forwardly extending portion 48 which engages at its upper end the rear surface of the pane of glass ll.

Formed integral with the gutter portion is a longitudinally extending bead 49 provided with a shoulder 50. The back wall 46 of the rear section 44 and the forwardly and downwardly extending portion 41 of the gutter cooperate to form therebetween a channel i within which are secured a plurality of spring members 52, each consisting of a strip of spring metal which has an arcuately curved substantially horizontal portion 53. The end portion 54 of each spring member is bent upon itself and is snapped into the channel 5|, the free end thereof engaging the shoulder 50 so that the spring member is held within the channel by the inherent resiliency thereof. Formed integral with the back wall 46 of rear section 44 at the lower end thereof is a forwardly directed bottom wall 63 provided at its forward end with a longitudinally extending upstanding lip 55 having an upwardly and inwardly inclined outer surface 56 and an arcuately curved inner surface 51. V

The movable front section 45 comprises a face member 58 of the desired cross sectional contour provided at its upper or inner end with a rearwardly directed portion 59 engaging the outer surface of the glass sheet II. The face member 58 is provided at its lower or outer end with a longitudinally extending bead 60 supported upon the bottom wall 63 of the rear section and having an arcuately curved surface 6| engaging the arcuately curved inner surface 51 of lip 55. Extending rearwardly from the face member 58 at the lower end thereof is a longitudinally extending substantially horizontal lever arm 62 which is received beneath the spring members 52.

In associating the front section 45 with the rear section 44, the lever arm 62 is first inserted beneath the spring members 52 and the said front section moved rearwardly until the upper end 59 thereof engages the glass sheet H and the bead 60 engages the inclined front surface 56 of lip 55. Then, as the front section is forced rearwardly the bead 60 will slide upwardly along the inclined front surface 56 of lip 55 until it clears the upper edge thereof, whereupon it will snap downwardly behind said lip. The action of the spring members 52 will urge the lever arm 62 downwardly to hold the bead 60 against lip 55 and the upper end of the front section in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass II. To remove the front section 45, is is simply necessary to force the lower end thereof rearwardly until the bead 60 can be withdrawn from behind the lip 55.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In a sash or storefront construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of glass in place therebetween, said movable section being carried upon said fixed section and said fixed section being provided with a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly, and resilient means carried by said movable section and engaging the cammed surface on said fixed section for urging the said movable section toward and maintaining it in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass.

2. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of glass in place therebetween, said fixed and movable sections having portions interengaging one another and. said fixed section being provided with a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly, and spring members carried by said movable section and engaging the cammed surface on said fixed section for urging the said movable section toward and maintaining it under tension in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass.

3. In a sash Or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of glass in place therebetween, said fixed section having a portion engageable by the outer end of said movable section and serving to prevent said outer end from moving forwardly, said fixed section being also provided with a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly, and spring members carried by said movable section and engaging the cammed surface on said fixed section for urging the inner end of the said movable section toward and maintaining it under tension in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass.

4. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of glass in place therebetween, said fixed section having a bottom wall provided at its forward end with an upstanding lip engageable by said movable section, said fixed section being also provided with a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downward y, and resilient means carried by said movable section and having frictional engagement with the cammed surface on said fixed section for urging the said movable section toward and maintaining it in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass.

5. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of glass in place therebetween, said fixed section having a bottom wall provided at its forward end with an upstanding lip and. said movable section engaging said lip inwardly thereof and prevented thereby from moving forwardly, said fixed section being also provided with a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly, and spring members carried by said movable section and engaging the cammed surface on said fixed section for urging the said movable section toward and maintaining it under tension in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass.

6. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane'of glass in place therebetween, said fixed section having a bottom wall provided at its forward end with an upstanding lip and said movable section having its outer end associated with said lip and held in place thereby, said fixed section being also provided with a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly, and spring members carried by said movable section and having frictional engagement with the cammed surface on said fixed section, said spring members being placed under tension upon installation of said movable section to urge the inner end of the said movable section toward and maintain it in yieldable eng With the pane of glass.

'7. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of glass in place therebetween, said movable section being carried upon said fixed section and said fixed section having a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly, said movable section being provided with a longitudinally extending channel, and a plurality of spring members secured at one end within said channel and having their opposite free ends engaging the cammed surface on said fixed section for urging the said movable section toward and maintaining it under tension in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass.

8. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of lass in place therebetween, said movable section being carried upon said fixed section and said fixed section having a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly, said movable section being provided with a longitudinally extending channel, and a plurality of spring members, each having one end received within said channel and resiliently held therein and its opposite free end in frictional engagement with the cammed outer surface on said fixed section, said spring members being placed under tension upon installation of said movable section for urging the said movable section toward and maintaining it in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass.

9. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of glass in place therebetween, said fixed section having a portion engageable by the outer end of said movable section and serving to prevent said outer end from moving forwardly, said fixed section being further provided with a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly and said movable section being provided with a longitudinally extending channel, and a plurality of spring members secured at one end within said channel and having their opposite free ends engaging the cammed outer surface on said fixed section for urging the inner end of the said movable section toward and maintaining it under tension in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass.

10. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of glass in place therebetween, said fixed section having a bottom wall provided at its forward end with an upstanding lip and said movable section having its outer end associated with said lip and held in place thereby, said fixed section being further provided with a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly and said movable section being provided with a longitudinally extending channel, and a plurality of spring members, each having one end received within said channel and resiliently held therein and its opposite free end in frictional engagement with the cammed outer surface on said fixed section, said spring members being placed under tension by installation of said movable section to urge the inner end of the said movable section toward and maintain it in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass.

11. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of glass in place therebetween, said fixed section having a bottom wall provided at its forward end with an upstanding lip and said movable section having a groove at its outer end for receiving said lip therein, said fixed section being also provided with a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly, and spring members carried by said movable section and projecting rearwardly beyond the edge of the pane of glass, said spring members engaging the cammed surface on said fixed section and being placed under tension upon installation of said movable section for urging the inner end of the said movable section toward and maintaining it in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass.

12. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of glass in place therebetween, said fixed section having a bottom wall provided at its forward end with an upstanding lip and said movable section having a groove at its outer end for receiving said lip therein, said fixed section being also provided with a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly, spring members carried by said movable section and projecting rearwardly beyond the edge of the pane of glass, said spring members engaging the cammed surface on said fixed section and being placed under tension upon installation of said movable section for urging the inner end of the said movable section toward and maintaining it in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass, and locking means carried by said fixed section rearwardly of said spring members for preventing rearward movement of said movable section and disengagement thereof from said lip.

13. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane of glass in place therebetween, said fixed section having a forwardly projecting shelf provided with a cammed outer surface curving rearwardly and downwardly and being further provided with a bottom wall formed at its forward end with an upstanding lip, said movable section having a groove at its outer end for receiving said lip therein, and spring members carried by said movable section and projecting rearwardly beyond th edge of the pane of glass, said spring members being disposed outwardly of said shelf and engaging the cammed surface thereof, the said spring members being placed under tension upon installation of said movable section for urging the inner end of the said movable section toward and maintaining it in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass.

14. In a sash or store front construction, the combination of a fixed section and a movable section adapted to receive and clamp a pane gaging the cammed surface thereof, the said spring members being placed under tension upon installation of said movable section for urging the inner end of the said movable section toward and maintaining it in yieldable engagement with the pane of glass, and locking pins carried by said fixed section rearwardly of said spring members for preventing rearward movement of said movable section and disengagement thereof from 10 said lip.

CLYDE D. LOWRY. 

